All characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. I don't own anything except the plot in this.
Chapter eleven
I was nervous as I got ready for school. I was sure that after yesterday Edward would be in school today, so that meant I could talk to him. My stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of being able to speak with him normally again. It was odd, after everything what had happened I found myself excited at the prospect of talking to him. But it was more than just being able to speak with him, I was going to give him another chance.
My mind had often wondered before what would have happened if I hadn't rejected him that day he attacked Mike, if I'd still taken my time to know him better as we had planned. Well now I would find out.
I would have thought I'd be nervous about seeing Mike again, but I didn't feel anything like that. To me Mike was simply another person now. There was no feeling of betrayal or of sadness, if anything I was more worried about his annoying attempts to win my forgiveness. But with or without my forgiveness I would not go back with him as his girlfriend. I found I felt in fact relieved that I wasn't in a relationship with him anymore, that I didn't have to meet him at school and walk with to class or sit with him at lunch, I wondered why I hadn't broken up with him before now. I realized now that I hadn't really ever been happy being Mike's girlfriend. I felt as if a huge weight had been taken off my shoulders.
My stomach began doing little nervous flips as I thought of how I would approach Edward today and tell him I was willing to give him a chance. I remembered how his face used to be so happy whenever I spoke with him and when his whole face lit up when I first told him I'd give him another chance. I smiled imagining his face and the joy I'd feel radiating from him when I would talk to him today.
Knowing Edward he'd probably do everything in his power to spend time with me today, and I wasn't complaining at the prospect of having him instead of Mike walking with me in between classes and sitting with him in the cafeteria. I smiled again at the thought of speaking to the Cullens again, I suppose Rosalie might be a differant story but at least I could talk to Alice now. I'd been angry with her last week, but I knew she understood.
I felt as if today would be a good day.
Charlie seemed to notice my behaviour during breakfast.
"You alright, Bells?" he asked eyeing me curiously
"Yeah" I replied "Why wouldn't I be"
"You just seem a little anxious is all"
I shrugged my shoulders as if I didn't know what he was talking about, but if I was being honest I was dying to get out the door. I wanted to see Edward's face so badly, but not just his face but all the Cullen's faces, even Rosalie's in a sense. I knew how happy they would be when Edward told them I gave him another chance, or when they eaves-dropped on our conversation.
I couldn't get in my truck fast enough, I didn't hesitate to turn the key in the ignition and make my way to school. I wondered if Edward would be there before me, I'd noticed he arrived later than usual since I'd dated Mike, but maybe now that he knew it was over he'd arrive early again. My heart jumped in excitement when I saw his silver volvo already parked. When I arrived he got out the car and stood beside it as he watched me. I looked away as I blushed.
I considered going over to talk to him now. Then there was a tap on my passenger window. It was Mike. I rolled my eyes as I got out my truck and started to walk away as he called after me.
"Bella, wait!" he said as he grabbed my arm.
"What is it, Mike" I said, I sounded bored already.
"Just let me explain?" he pleaded
"What is there to explain? You cheated on me, end of discussion"
"But I don't want Jessica!"
"Well, then why did you sleep with her?"
"I don't know. I had a hard-on thinking about you and... she was there"
"That's pathetic Mike!"
"Its true!"
"So what? I don't give a damn anymore, Mike"
I started to walk away again but he grabbed hold of me again and shook me as I tried to break free. Then a white hand landed on Mike's shoulder and we both turned to see whose it belonged to, though I didn't have to look up to know who it was. Edward looked just like he did that time before, but this time I wasn't afraid of him.
"Let her go, Newton" he growled.
"This is none of your business, Cullen" Mike sneered.
I was surprised by Mike's sudden confidence. Had he forgotten the last time? But Mike's confidence didn't last as Edward's eyes seemed to darken in color, as if conveying his intentions if Mike didn't comply. Mike's grip loosened and he quickly walked away from us.
I looked up at Edward and his face immediatly softened.
"Thanks, Edward" I said.
I loved the feeling of saying his name, it seemed to fall effortlessly from my lips.
"Your welcome" he smiled lovingly at me.
I couldn't wait any longer, I had to speak with him now. I looked over at the rest of the Cullens who were standing just a few feet away from us now and saw Alice smiling widely at me. Of course she would know what was about to happen. I smiled back at her and then looked back up at Edward.
"Em.." I said nervously "do you mind if I could speak to you? Alone?"
Edward's face lit up like christmas tree lights. He nodded, never once taking his eyes of mine. We walked side by side, Edward still looking at me the whole time, until we reached the brick wall at the other end of the school. We both stopped and I put my back to the wall as I faced him.
"Em... so I guess you know that Mike and I are over?"
He nodded, a small smile on his flawless lips.
I didn't know where to start. I was silent for a long time as I tried to think of how to broach the subject with him. He waited, still staring down at me. That made it even harder to think incoherent words. I decided it was best to just cut to it straight away. I took a deep breath before I spoke.
"Edward... I'm giving you another chance"
EPOV
My whole world exploded with such blissful happiness that I was sure fireworks were visible in my eyes. She was giving me another chance! She had forgiven me! She didn't care about what I had done, she was willing to try and get to know me and perhaps... even love me. I couldn't speak, I was drowning in so much pure joy that I thought I would choke, but I could care less if I died from this happiness.
I could not hear or see anything other than Bella at this moment, anything other than her did not exist to me. I don't know how long I stared at her, but she did not object, she stared back with the same intensity. She did not seem able to say anything either. Maybe there was nothing to say for the time being, but that one sentence she had just spoke was enough for me to last.
I realized I had to say something, even if only my gratitude. And I had to tell her that. My eternal gratitude for this second chance she had willingly given me.
"I... I... I..." was all I could say.
She laughed quietly.
"I know that I've ignored you for a long time" she said "but I understand now that I need you. I never thought I'd admit it, but I don't really think I can live without you now"
This was such beautiful music to my ears. To know that she felt like this towards me, that she was wanted just like me for us to be in each other's lives. A huge open-mouthed smile broke across my face. I was still too stunned to say anything.
"So... do you think we could get another shot at getting to know each other?"
Yes! Yes! YES! A million times YES!! I just nodded dumbly.
She smiled at me. She seemed to realize that I was quite unable to say anything at all, so she said that she would see me later. My heart yelled at me to go after her and say something, but I was incapable of doing anything other than staring at her as she walked away. I immediatly ached at the loss of her presence, yet still unable to move. My feet seemed glued to the spot of the ground and would not move an inch.
I think I had gone into shock. Was that possible for a vampire?
Told you so- Alice
I did not tear my gaze away from the direction Bella had gone in. My smile was still in place. Alice laughed and Emmett waved a hand in front of my face, no doubt making idiotic remarks, but I didn't care enough to listen. The only thing that registered in my mind was that Bella had taken me back, in a sense. I knew she did not love me yet, I knew her too well to think she loved me right now, but it was enough that she was willing to try, more than enough, more than I had ever hoped to have.
But surely if she had given me a chance and she had said herself that she felt she needed me in her life, then surely she did feel it possible that she could one day return my feelings of love. She was obviously attracted to me. That was an emotion quite close to love, so I was sure that soon she would love me. Soon she would be mine. I shivered in pleasure at the thought of being able to call her mine.
And she would be mine. I would make sure of that now.
BPOV
I walked to class with a huge smile on my face. It seemed stupid, but I couldn't help but feel excited at being able to talk to Edward normally, I felt like I had missed being able to do that, though technically I still barely knew him. I felt excited at being able to hang out with Alice too, I could see her fast becoming a close friend.
Class had already started when I entered class, but I could care less, I didn't even hear the teacher's angry tone. I really tried to pay attention to the lesson, but all I could think of was Edward's overjoyed expression as I told him I'd forgiven him. I felt pleased that it had been me that made him so happy. After seeing him so upset over the past weeks it was a beautiful sight to behold his changed face.
I felt happy at knowing that it was me who could ever make him happy, in a way his happiness was in my hands. I knew I could bring him greater happiness than anyone else ever could, and just by doing the smallest things too. And I wanted to give him that happiness, I wanted him to be happy, I needed him to be happy. And now I he could be happy. I made a promise then that I would never see his sad face again. I would make sure he was happy.
Mike tried passing me notes a few times during classes and tried to get close to me in the corridors, but I simply ignored him. He'd give up eventually, I told myself. I hoped anyway, because it was honestly getting annoying. And Jessica's death glares were just a little pathetic rather than scary as I imagined they were meant to be. I suppose she was a little humiliated that Mike had rejected her after bedding her. I saw her trying to lure him into the janitor's clost at one point but he just shrugged her off, her face was hilarious when that happened. I couldn't stop laughing, which of course earned more death glares.
"Bella!" Mike called as I walked to the cafeteria.
He was right behind me
"Please, Bella. Take me back, babe" he pleaded.
I rolled my eyes "Fuck off, Mike" I spat.
He looked shocked. He'd never heard me swear before, not even when we had sex the other week. He stopped following me for now, but I knew he hadn't given up yet. I'd have to run to my truck if I wanted to escape him after gym...
When I entered the cafeteria I saw Mike gaining up on me again so I went to Angela's side and started to talking with her. That made him turn the other way. I looked over at the Cullen table hoping to see Edward's face. But he wasn't there. I'd assumed he would be sitting with then again now. I looked over to the table where he usually sat now, but he wasn't there either. My heart sunk in disappointment as I turned away. Had he gone home? When I looked over at them again they were all looking at me, except Rosalie, with big smiles plastered across their faces. They were obviously happy for Edward. I sighed heavily remembering his absence.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you" Angela said.
My head turned to look at her in shock then I looked around the cafeteria wondering where she was looking. Then I saw Edward sitting at another table at the other end of the room. He was staring at me like Angela said, but that was hardly a surprise. That crooked grin spread across his lips when I looked over at him and a smile triggered on my own face in response. He shyly motioned with his hand for me to come over. I didn't think before I walked over to him and stood at the other end of his table. We stared at each other for a moment before he spoke.
"Do you want to sit with me?" he asked nervously. My heart melted.
"Sure" I said and his smile grew bigger as I sat down across from him.
We didn't speak for a minute, just gazed into each other's eyes. Then he chuckled
"What?" I asked curiously.
"Jessica's thoughts are quite amusing" he snickered.
I smiled, I could only imagine what was going on her head.
"Yeah, she wasn't all that pleased when Mike shrugged her off" I snickered too, remembering her face earlier.
"But I don't like it when she thinks mean things about you though" his voice was no longer humorous.
"Well, thats not really all that new. Mike or no Mike" I said.
He tried to smile again, but his eyes were still grim. I looked behind him and saw Jessica glaring at me, again. I snickered at her attempt to frighten me.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Jessica's funny" I giggled.
He smiled at the sound of my laughter, as if it were sweet music. I looked down, a little self-consious under his stare.
"Has Newton being giving you any problems this morning?" he asked teasingly, but I could hear the threat towards Mike underneath it.
Despite how Mike had hurt me, I couldn't really allow him to get hurt, which I feared Edward would if he really though that Mike was bothering me.
"Not too much" I said.
He didn't seem to believe me, but hoped that if he thought that I didn't care about Mike bothering me then that would be enough for him to leave Mike alone and not harm him. I decided it was best to change the subject.
"How's Alice doing?" I asked casually. I hoped my attempt to distract him wasn't too obvious.
"Fine" he chuckled then "she's looking forward to playing "Bella barbie" as she calls it"
"Bella what?"
"Bella barbie. Alice is very keen on taking you shopping and also giving you a makeover"
I groaned "I hate shopping"
He chuckled.
"I'll protect you" he said, voice teasing again.
I frowned "I wasn't all that nice to her last time I saw her"
"She forgives you, don't worry" his voice was suddenly grim.
I thought about the night Alice came to see me and comforted me. That was the day I'd lost my virginity to Mike. I realized that the reminder of that day was the most probable cause for Edward's sudden gloominess. I didn't really like reminders of that fact myself. It wasn't like I wasn't wracked with guilt every night because of that as it was.
I looked up to see Edward's face pained. I regretted bringing the subject up immediatly. I realized Edward's pain seemed to set off my own pain.
"Do you want to go on a date?" I asked suddenly. The words had come out of my mouth before I could even stop them in their tracks.
I suppose it was both an attempt to distract him and also my own desire to go on a date with him. The distraction part seemed to work though, because his pained expression changed at once and he nodded eagerly. I laughed. He just looked so much like a little kid at times, but his sweetness only made me all the more besotted by him. His crooked smile appeared again.
After clearing my head from my dazed state I looked over at Mike. He was looking over at us, clearly jealous. Edward looked over in the same direction I did and chuckled, obviously more than happy at rubbing it Mike's face after all these terrible weeks for him.
Just then I noticed that the cafeteria was nearly empty and I got up from my seat.
"We should get to class" I said.
He nodded, his eyes still on me as he got up. I was cheered by the idea of being able to walk to biology with him.
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